Multi-holed biplane drill guide-assisted percutaneous anterior odontoid screw fixation

Background: The use of percutaneous anterior screw fixation for odontoid fractures has been widely reported. Because the anatomical characteristics of the odontoid and the screw occupy three-dimensional space, it is challenging to establish the screw trajectory quickly and correctly during the operation. Objective: The purpose of this study was to introduce a multi-holed biplane drill guide that can be used to optimize the guide needle trajectory in percutaneous anterior odontoid screw fixation. Methods: Twenty-one patients with type II or rostral type III odontoid fractures were treated with percutaneous anterior single screw fixation. Of these, 12 patients had an unsatisfactory initial guide needle position. A drill guide was used to provide a variety of guide needle tracks. Result: All 12 patients successfully underwent guided screw placement without vascular or neurological complications. Postoperative X-ray and/or CT scans showed that the internal fixation position was satisfactory. At the end of the follow-up period, all patients exhibited bony union without loosening or fractures of the internal fixation. Conclusion: With the imperfect initial position of the guide needle as a reference, the multi-holed biplane drill guide can provide a variety of needle trajectory options in the sagittal and coronal planes for percutaneous anterior odontoid screw fixation. The operator can quickly obtain the ideal guide needle trajectory.